The big win over Blackburn was immensely enjoyable and has lifted the mood in the Gooner camp to a great extent after an eminently forgettable January. A lot has already been said about the match and I don't want to revisit it in detail but there were two goals in that game that caught my eye.

Both the goals started from the back but were scored in a markedly different manner, each a delight in its own way.

Ever have one of those days where you wish you hadn't gotten out of bed? Steve Kean is having one of those seasons. Arsenal, came into the game without a win in 2012. Blackburn came in sucking. It was bound to get ugly and it did. Quickly.Oh, where to begin... Van Persie with a goal in the 2nd minute to start out his hat-trick.

Video- Thierry Henry goal vs Blackburn 2012 February 4 Arsenal is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Video- Thierry Henry goal vs Blackburn 2012 February 4 Arsenal is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter This Thierry Henry's goal vs Blackburn ( Video below) was his first for Arsenal in the 11/12 season since his goal against Leeds in the FA Cup.

Arsenal vs Blackburn 7-1 Highlights Goals 2012 Video Van Persie Pedersen Chamberlain Arteta Henry Givet red card is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Arsenal vs Blackburn 7-1 Highlights Goals 2012 Video Van Persie Pedersen Chamberlain Arteta Henry Givet red card is a post from Soccer Blogger.

For many people the low point of this season was the 8-2 at Old Trafford. And I get that completely. It was embarrassing but, you know, it was a freak. A one off. Something that's never likely to happen again and entirely down to the fact that the manager took off the Coq. Without him we had no penetration, no balls and as a team we went flaccid without him to keep us stiff in the middle of the park.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has publicly spoken of his side's recent struggles after the Gunners could only muster a 0-0 draw against Bolton earlier this week. Arsenal have been in a poor run of form of late, prompting many media outlets to question the future of Arsene Wenger.

"We had a lot of chances to win the game at Bolton, but once again we've not been good enough to take them," said Arsenal's Spanish midfielder.

It may not have been a coincidence that the Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta was out injured while Arsenal had their run of three defeats since the New Year, but he was back for this weeks 0-0 draw with Bolton, and he is not very happy with the team's performances. "We had a lot of chances [...]

Arsenal can confirm that Jack Wilshere has suffered a small stress fracture to the right foot which is in a different location to his original injury. He will be reassessed in two weeks by Arsenal's medical team. If all goes well (keeping fingers crossed), Wilshere might be back in time for Arsenal's Ides of March schedule.

Still warm and cuddly after Sunday but a midweek trip to a freezing Lancashire is not what was wanted, particularly to a Lancashire team who are in the process of turning their season around.

The recent beatings of both Liverpool teams is evidence of Bolton's turnaround. Add in the Cup win over Swansea and we can see tonight's game will be a challenge.

Still warm and cuddly after Sunday but a midweek trip to a freezing Lancashire is not what was wanted, particularly to a Lancashire team who are in the process of turning their season around.

The recent beatings of both Liverpool teams is evidence of Bolton's turnaround. Add in the Cup win over Swansea and we can see tonight's game will be a challenge.

Bright Eis

Did anyone really expect Wenger to burn holes in Arsenal's chequebook this month? The general climate in football hinted at no, the fact that Arsene is our boss said no, and the apparent need for backup up front or at the back said – haha – no. No no no.

There is a glimmer of hope amidst the sea of negativity that Arsenal have been swimming in recently. Some players are close to making their return after serious injuries. Of course, as we have seen with Wilshere recently and with others in the past, getting hopes up when it comes to injuries and Arsenal is not a smart choice.

The long substitution

It's finally confirmed, the news that we did not want to hear. That Jack Wilshere has had a setback and would not be available in the date that we initially had hoped he would be back for. AC Milan's games were touted as his return period but that will now have to be extended.

Arsenal legend Alan Smith has criticised current manager Arsene Wenger's recruitment policy, which he believes could cost the Gunners a UEFA Champions League spot at the end of the season. The retired striker, who has now turned to commentating, also believes that Wenger should have pursued central defender Gary Cahill more aggressively before he was signed by their London rivals Chelsea earlier this month.

It is great news that both Mikel Arteta and Thierry Henry are returning from injury this week, but although it is certain that these two will be starting against Aston Villa in the FA Cup this weekend, who else will Wenger be putting in the starting line-up. Wenger has made it clear that his ultimate [.

It's undoubtedly been a bad few weeks for the club. Speaking to a friend before the United match I suggested that the previous five weeks had been the worst I'd seen us consistently play as a team in the 15 years I've been going to Arsenal. And after the match, we remain pointless in 2012.
But I do think people have suffered from raised expectations.

Rumour doing the rounds that this is the new Arsenal away kit for next season. Hope not. Clearly the Nike designers have given a nod to the blackcurrent kit we wore for a season at Highbury a few years back.

I prefer good old yellow and blue but these days kits are all about revenue and this could be our new away top, with the stripes used for marketing purposes and to allow a shirt to double up as a leisure top.

Understandably, none of our regular authors were inclined to write a match report following yesterday's game, so you will all have to suffer the thoughts of someone who will I'm sure, not be expressing the mainstream opinion on this site.

I couldn't go to the game as I had to work. I followed the live commentary on BBC Sport football, listened to the radio phone in on my way home and watched the lowlights on MotD through the lattice of my fingers clamped to my face.

The Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta was bought in the last minutes of the summer transfer window, along with Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, Yossi Benayoun and Ju Young Park, in the days following the 8-2 defeat to Man Utd, and although Wenger denies that he was "panic-buying" Arteta believes this was the reason he was brought [.

By 1970's Gooner I call it as I see it and after Arshavin's poor performance against Swansea I shudder to contemplate what will happen when Nani begins to terrorise young Miquel on the left hand side of Arsenal's defence. Add to this the likely possibility that Arsenal will be without Arteta and you then face the possibility that we will be suffering in

Arsenal come to their match with United battered and listing badly

Thomas Vermaelen is a last minute decision, Thierry Henry has a "calf" problem, and Mikel Arteta will definitely sit out the match. A full starting squad is out with injuries, yes, there are eleven out. The most in the Premiership.

By Chris Wright

What we have here is Arsenal trio Mikel Arteta, Laurent Koscielny and Robin van Persie posing in a clutch of brilliant but slightly creepy 'moving photographs' (or 'cinemagraphs' to give them their proper name) for Citroen.

The effect is really quite weird an otherwise static photo, just with the slightest hint of movement here and there.

Arsene Wenger has issued a wake-up call literally to his players, urging them to stay focused throughout the 90 minutes of Sunday's home clash with Manchester United.

While the Gunners emerged 1-0 winners through an Aaron Ramsey goal when the Red Devils last visited the Emirates nearly eight months ago, they were thrashed 8-2 by the reigning Premier League champions at Old Trafford in August.

Good morning to you and welcome to Thursday. The week is flying by. Must be all the high jinks and fun. Can't think what else it would be.

Let's start this morning with Jack Wilshere. Apparently he's 'stunned' doctors by being ready to make his comeback ... erm ... pretty much on schedule. When he limped out of the Emirates Cup in late July there was no indication he'd be out this long but since the need for surgery we've been told he'd be back in full training by the end of January, ready for a mid-February comeback.

It's out of the frying pan and into the fire for Arsenal as they take on Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Sun. Jan 22. It's going to be interesting to see how the Gunners psyche will be affected considering United laid an 8-2 beating on them at Old Trafford back on Aug. 28. You can get your Arsenal tickets for this classic matchup starting at £220 and it could end up being the game of the season since the Gunners are sure to want revenge for the Old Trafford debacle.

Arsenal has suffered some terrible bad luck with defensive injuries this season. We lost Sagna, Gibbs and Jenkinson all with a 17 days in October, but the loss that has hurt us most was the loss of Santos in December. Santos was an attacking full-back and gave us extra attacking options something that has been lacking in recent weeks.

Angry, frustrated, disappointed. Once again Arsenal fans are left let-down, once again we are promised things will change and once again it is groundhog season for Arsenal, and we haven't even entered the annual departures of the close season.

Where do we start? It is obvious that things went wrong in the summer with Wenger anticipating that both Nasri and Fabregas will not leave these were the hopes of a man living in a dream land.

After an amazing cup tie and a full week off it's time to return to the real business of Premiership football with a visit to The Liberty Stadium to take on Swansea.

Swansea Town was founded in 1912 and changed it's name to Swansea City in recognition of the town being granted City status in 1969.

After Vito Mannone moved to Hull on loan there was some suggestion that he had made available a space for non homegrown players to arrive.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. For the 2011/12 season we named five homegrown players over the age of 21, and 17 (the maximum allowed) non homegrown players.

After Vito Mannone moved to Hull on loan there was some suggestion that he had made available a space for non homegrown players to arrive.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. For the 2011/12 season we named five homegrown players over the age of 21, and 17 (the maximum allowed) non homegrown players.

It's not a trick of the eye, it's not a fancy photoshop job. That is indeed Thierry Henry in an Arsenal shirt, an Arsenal shirt of 2012, wheeling away to celebrate a goal.

And not just any goal, but an Henry goal. Song played in a brilliant through ball that split the two covering defenders, Henry took one touch to control the ball, and himself, and then he curled right into the corner of the net away from the keeper's despairing dive.

It's not a trick of the eye, it's not a fancy photoshop job. That is indeed Thierry Henry in an Arsenal shirt, an Arsenal shirt of 2012, wheeling away to celebrate a goal.

And not just any goal, but an Henry goal. Song played in a brilliant through ball that split the two covering defenders, Henry took one touch to control the ball, and himself, and then he curled right into the corner of the net away from the keeper's despairing dive.

szólj hozzá: Arsenal v Leeds 1:0 HIGHLIGHTS

The stage was set after 68 minutes of frustrating football with Arsenal brought to a standstill by a Leeds Utd team that parked the bus. The moment everyone was waiting for with bated breath. Number 12 strode in to a standing ovation - Thierry Henry had arrived home to a flood of good time memories.

Let's calm down, it's only the FA Cup Third Rou-WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A game dominated by Arsenal but missing a special finish was effectively ended when Thierry Henry made his return to Arsenal as a 69th minute substitute and scored a sublime winner 10 minutes later.

Having last week ruminated in full on the state of our rearguard this season; this week's column will meditate on the performance further up the pitch. Taking in the oily machinery of the midfield engine room, through to the leather upholstery and walnut gear knobs up top. (Or in some cases, those big seats on the bench that look like they've been half inched from the McLaren showroom).

If there was ever the slimmest chance that NB52 would return to Arsenal after his loan period at Sunderland...er, not now surely? Check this out from today's Newcastle Chronicle

Admittedly it was back in September but it is still a new revaltion and yet another indiscretion for a player who is doing his best to earn a reputation as a bit of a boy.

If it had not been for such a difficult start to the season, Arsenal would now be fighting for the title.

And, that includes the loss of points against Wolves at home (unfortunate) and Fulham away (well deserved). The last few games have been disappointing, but Arsenal have gathered 29 points in their last 13 games and during the process it was able to pre-qualify for the CL against a very good Udinese, and win their CL-group against strong opposition with style and dominance.

After Vito Mannone moved to Hull on loan there was some suggestion that he had made available a space for non homegrown players to arrive.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. For the 2011/12 season we named five homegrown players over the age of 21, and 17 (the maximum allowed) non homegrown players.

Sebastien Squillaci: Flumm-oxed

1. There are no free passes in the Premiership: Even the so called lesser teams have their moments under the sun. You underestimate them at your own peril. Teams that got bitten badly this past weekend: United, City, Chelsea, and Spurs.

Football on New Years Eve!? Do the FA not give any thought to the bloggers having to write match reports?

Anyhow, QPR were the latest visitors to the Emirates during this crazy Christmas period. With Liverpool already picking up 3 points a day earlier against Newcastle, and with United, Chelsea and Spurs all expected to win against relegation fodder (see what I done!